Thieves target funeral home

UNSAVOURY ATTACK: Funeral director Aaron Gray came to work to find glass smashed and a television stolen, the latest in a spate of thefts targeting the monument shop at Fountain’s Funeral in Papakura.

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Staff at a funeral home are reeling after the latest in a string of thefts targeting its monument shop.

Aaron Gray, funeral director at Fountain's Funerals in Papakura, says he came to work one morning last week and found a glass door to the shop smashed and a television stolen.

The home has had a few items stolen recently, including pot plants, a granite bench and a water monument, but the latest theft was the first time somebody had forced their way on to the property, he said.

The door has now been replaced but the feeling of violation is not as easily fixed.

"People have the respect to not steal something from a cemetery. We expect the same thing of this building," Gray said.

Manager Wendy Hunt says the damage has cost about $3000 to repair but the monetary setback is only part of the problem.

"It's just a sad thing that someone would want to take a TV, especially from a funeral home," she said.

"We work so hard to work within our community and help our community by providing these services to people. It's a lot of damage just for one TV."

Hunt says extra surveillance cameras and sensors are now being installed around the property.

She has assured people the funeral home itself was untouched and remains secure.

The incident has been reported to the police.

Contact the Papakura police station on 295 0200 with any information on the theft.